The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is not required by legislation to take decisions in any specified way or to any timescale. Decisions may be taken at any time provided they follow the published policy of the Commissioner and that decisions of significant public interest are published (as required by Statutory Instrument 2011/3050 The Elected Local Policing Bodies Specified Information Order 2011).
Decisions will be taken:
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Agree to enter an indemnity agreement with Northamptonshire County Council (or their successors) to ensure that any liabilities related to staff from before the date of transfer of the Fire and Rescue Service to the PFCC are indemnified by the County Council to ensure that, in effect, liabilities remain with the County Council.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Appoint a Head of Paid Service, a Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) and Monitoring Officer for the Fire and Rescue Authority.
Decision taken:
To ratify the decision previously taken by the Police and Crime Commissioner in October 2018, in respect of Banking Arrangements for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Authority be undertaken by Natwest Bank.
Decision taken:
From 2018/19, PSAA is responsible for appointing an auditor to principal local government bodies that have chosen to opt into its national auditor appointment arrangements. Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority (NCFRA) has opted into these arrangements.
EY LLP have been appointed to audit the accounts of NCFRA for five years, for the audits of the accounts from 2018/19 to 2022/23. This appointment is made under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Local Audit (Appointing Person) Regulations 2015, and was approved by the PSAA Board at its meeting on 19 December 2018.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Authorise the Corporate Governance Framework with effect from 1/1/19 for the Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Agree to enter an indemnity agreement with Northamptonshire County Council (or their successors) to ensure that any liabilities related to staff from before the date of transfer of the Fire and Rescue Service to the PFCC are indemnified by the County Council to ensure that, in effect, liabilities remain with the County Council.
Decision taken
Following consideration of the budget and precept at the Police, Fire and Crime Panel in February 2019, the PFCC took the decision to issue the first precept for Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority (NCFRA) as follows:
The full report is available to review on the Police, Fire and Crime Panel and Commissioner’s website.
Decision taken
Following consideration of the budget and precept at the Police, Fire and Crime Panel in February 2019, the PFCC has reviewed the following strategies for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service:
These strategies are available on the Police, Fire and Crime Panel and Commissioner’s website:
NRFS Decision Record 8 – Financial Strategies for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has agreed a three year contract with Advanced Communications Solutions for the the provision of medical grade non-allergenic rubber individually moulded hearing defenders for operational staff. As part of the contract, the provider will be required to attend a contract review meeting every six months and make NFRS aware of any issues with the programme or with meeting the replacement programme. They will also be required to keep NFRS informed about any new developments or innovations and new technology.
Additional contract extensions (of a further one twelve month period) will be activated based upon contractor performance and agreement with the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has agreed a three year contract with Jewson’s based in Wellingborough to provide Full OSB timber boards, 2440 x 1220 x 18mm OSB 3 Conditioned FSC® certified and Half OSB timber boards, 2440 x 550 x 18mm OSB 2 Half Boards FSC® certified to Chelveston Training & Development centre on an ongoing basis.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to renew the Sophos UTM Firewall ‘Endpoint Protection Advanced’ & ‘Endpoint eXploit Prevention’ for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue for 3yrs. The cost of providing Firewalls Licensing (Users & Physical) is £47,405.47.
NRFS Decision Record 11- NFRS Firewalls Licensing (Users & Physical)
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to agree a Three-year contract for the provision of prepared scrap vehicles for Road Traffic Collision (RTC) training. The availability of prepared RTC scrap cars for training of firefighters is a requirement for the acquisition and maintenance of competence of staff responding to RTC incidents. Failure to facilitate adequate training would be in breach of FRS Act and H&S legislation.
NRFS Decision Record 12- NFRS provision of prepared scrap vehicles for RTC training
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to ratify the contract for the total care agreement for training & Operational purposes (2 separate contracts) that are the maintenance contracts to the Drager Breathing Apparatus utilised by NFRS.
Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service has an existing 10 year contract for Breathing Apparatus with Drager. The contract term is 1/4/2013 – 31/3/2023. It is now in its 6th year and was subject to the transfer scheme. The total value of the main contract is £340,620 (£34,062 pa). The Breathing Apparatus is used operationally and by training services. There are therefore 2 contracts to maintain and service the Breathing Apparatus in these 2 areas. The contracts are renewed each year. As the equipment is from Drager only this supplier can service the equipment.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to agree a Single Tender Authorisation to award to the provision of Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Boat Operator (SFRBO) revalidation to Plas Menai at a cost of £34,200 based on candidate numbers. SFRBO revalidation must be undertaken every year and providers must be Rescue 3 uk approved.
NRFS Decision Record 14- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Boat Operator (SFRBO) revalidation
Decision taken
In April 2018, the PFCC ring fenced the initial sum of £250K to meet the requirements and processes required to ensure effective Fire Governance transition.
Following the transfer of Fire Governance, transition costs have now been finalised at £376,840 and have been met from the PFCC Initiatives Reserve.
Recognising that the longer term benefits of the transfer of Fire Governance will be available to both NCFRA and Northamptonshire Police, within the 2019/20 Budget and Precepts, the PFCC determined that the transition costs will be shared equally between NCFRA and Northamptonshire Police.
The NCFRA contribution will be made to the PFCC Initiatives Reserve in two payments of £62,807 in 2019/20 and 2020/21 and one payment of £62,806 in 2021/22.
NRFS Decision Record 15- NFRS Fire Governance Transition Costs
Decision taken
Following transfer of Fire Governance to the PFCC on the 1 January 2019, the PFCC agreed the Opening Balance Sheet with NCC. The following points are highlighted:
At the time of agreement, the S106 arrangements had not been finalised. These would be concluded after the balance sheet date.
The PFCC has determined that no interest will be payable on the balance due to NCFRA from NCC.
Decision taken
To establish the network links for the move from BT to Spitfire as the main supplier for NFRS and ensure contracts are all tied up in the same financial period.
Spitfire will supply the MLPS network backbone for the fire service, which will connect all sites back to MLC and Fire Control and this network will be the primary mobilising bearer to all stations and allows connections to core business functions for users. The inter-site link between MLC and Daventry is a core, critical link that provides the backup route between data centres and also provides resilience within the network infrastructure for mobilising and data. The inter-site link between Fire Control at Daventry and Warwickshire’s Fire Control in Leamington Spa is the main critical link between the Vision 4 mobilising system, that the Service shares that resides in Leamington Spa. This allows us to act as each other’s secondary Control, with the ability to mobilise on one and others behalf. This link also carries the DS3000 (ICCS) that both brigades share, this handles all of the 999 and admin calls as well as our connection to our SANH radio system.
Decision taken
To adopt the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2019-2022 which is part of our statutory duty and outlines all foreseeable risks within Northamptonshire and how we will use our resources to mitigate this risk.
Decision taken
To agree the Tender Award Report for the agree a contract for the Provision of Fuel cards with Allstar Business Solutions Limited a Period of 3 years from 10th
May 2019 to 22nd March 2022 for a total cost of £75,000. This contract will contain extension options of a further 2 years (+1+1) which potentially would make the final contract end date 22nd March 2024.
Decision taken
To sign a contract with Grafton Merchanting to the value of £65,820.00 for the supply of Timber to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. This contract is for one year with 2 optional 12 month extensions.
Decision taken
To sign a contract with Junction 4 Pallets to the value of £42,480.00 for the supply of Timber to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. This contract is for one year with 2 optional 12 month extensions.
Decision taken
To undertake condition surveys at 28 Fire and Rescue sites throughout the county based on RICS guidelines, to determine whether or not buildings meet a basic required standard. The cost of these surveys is £67,000.
Decision taken
To agree purchase the current leased vehicles for an estimated £83,000 at the end of their contract term and extend their useful life and enable consideration of where these could be used to replace white fleet vehicles due for replacement. Whilst there will be additional maintenance costs per annum, these will be absorbed within existing workshop costs where possible, with only additional costs for parts which will be met from within existing budget provision.
Decision taken
To agree the agreement with ‘LGSS’ to provide back office services to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service to help support the smooth transfer of the services from Northamptonshire County Council to NPFCC in accordance with the Statutory Instrument and Transfer Schemes.
Decision taken
To agree to the purchase of a mobile Cobra unit at a cost £39,087 plus maintenance costs of £4,500 over 3 years for one service per year. The cost of this unit can be made by drawing from credits NRFS have built up with Cold Cut System. This unit will provide additional resilience and provide opportunities to utilise the unit for commercial purposes.
NFRS Decision Record 25 – Cobra Frame
Decision taken
To amend the Section 22 Agreement that underpins the East Midlands Police Legal Unit (EMPLU) to enable EMPLU to provide Legal Services to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire acting as the Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Authority at a cost of £20,000 per annum. This arrangement will provide Northamptonshire Fire and Service with legal services and will be reviewed annually and the Head of EMPLU will provide quarterly updates to PFCC on the work undertaken.
Decision taken
To agree to fund all the costs for Incident Command Training Courses to ensure there is sufficient resiliency within the Officer Command requirements so that NFRS remains fully compliant. The overall spend for Incident Command Courses over the next three years will £126,784.
Decision taken
To fund a full training manikin replacement program due to the poor state of repair to existing training manikins on stations, and within the training department. Each WDS VCS and RDS station will receive 1 x 50kg Adult, 1 x 10kg Toddler. A 75kg will be used for Safe working@ height, and a further 2 x 50 kg with fire overalls will be supplied to the training department. A Total of 49 manikins required and upon delivery they will be asset managed to each station.
NFRS Decision Record 28 – Training Manikin Replacement Program
Decision taken
To agree a contract with WFL (UK) Ltd t/a Hall Fuels for the supply of liquid fuels to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service from 1st October 2019 to 31st March 2022 for the total contract value of up to £699,700.
Decision taken
To agree approx. £170k spend (£200k allocated in budget) to provide Basic Skills Training for 20 new recruit Fire Fighters. NFRA require the training programme to follow the initial Apprenticeship programme to build their understanding of delivery in this area and EMSCU will undertake the most appropriate route to ensure both elements are covered (ie actual training, and the ability to understand apprenticeship training)
Decision taken
Agree a three year contract for the provision of swift water flood rescue boat operator courses and related services which will be delivered by the Sport Wales
National Outdoor Centre, Plas Menai. The cost of the contract is £68,775.
NFRS Decision Record 31- Provision of Swift Water Flood Rescue Boat Operater Courses
Decision taken
The PFCC approved the Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority (NCFRA) Special Services Rates for 2019-20. The full rates are held on Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service website.
Decision taken
To support the sponsorship of the Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service Awards 2019 from the following organisations:
NFRS Decision Record 33- Fire and Rescue Service Awards 2019
Decision taken
To agree the Statement of Requirement from the Fire and Rescue Service who want to purchase 4 Type B Appliances to replace existing older vehicles. The approximate cost is £1.4m (£350k per appliance).
NFRS DR34 Purchase of Type B Appliances
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Enter in to an Overage Agreement for the properties that transferred to the PFCC as a result of the fire and rescue governance transfer from Northamptonshire County Council on 1st January 2019.
Decision taken
To approve the Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Authority Efficiency Plan for 2019/20
NFRS Decision Record 36 – Efficiency Plan 2019-20
Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Authority Efficiency Plan for 2019/20
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Approve the Fire and Rescue Strategy for Fleet
NFRS Decision Record 37 – Fire and Rescue Strategy for Fleet
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Approve the Fire and Rescue Strategy for ICT
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Approve the Fire and Rescue Strategy for Equipment
NFRS Decision Record 39 – Fire and Rescue Equipment Strategy
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Award the contract for the supply of Cyber Essentials, Microsoft Exchange and MECM to be provided by Specialist Computer Centres PLC (SCC) for the period of contract 23rd September 2020 to 31st March 2021 for the total contract value of up to £127,872.10. This work will help to ensure the security of NFRS’s IT infrastructure, ensure better collaboration and communication and improve patching and upgrades.
NFRS Decision Record 40- Fire and Rescue IT infrastructure
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Purchase 4 BType pumping appliances within phase 1 of their replacement program and then another 4 in the following financial year. These vehicles are to replace end of life appliances as part of the Service’s 15 year lifing strategy. The service currently operates 32 front line appliances, which includes 4 reserve
vehicles. The contract had been agrees with Emergency One Ltd for a values of up to £2,768,421.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Purchase a Joint Garage for Police and Fire at a total capital cost of £7.4m including fit out costs.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Agree and sign the Northamptonshire Police & Fire Collaboration Arrangements which is a requirement under the Home Office Financial Management Code of Practice for Police Forces and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners with governance responsibility for Fire and Rescue Services.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 places a duty on emergency services to collaborate and allows policing bodies to take on the responsibility for the governance of fire and rescue authorities. Pursuant to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire (Fire and Rescue Authority) Order 2018 (2018/1072) the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire became the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire with responsibility both for policing and for fire and rescue services in Northamptonshire acting, as appropriate, as the Policing Body for Northamptonshire as well as the Northamptonshire Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority.
The Commissioner and the Chief Constable consider that it would be advantageous for the police and fire services in Northamptonshire to work closely together. The parties therefore wish to enter into an emergency services collaboration agreement pursuant to section one of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 in the interests of the efficiency and effectiveness of the police and fire services in Northamptonshire.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Extend the period in which the services being delivered by LGSS to support the work of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service by LGSS until the 31st March 2021. The excludes Health, Safety (include Budget approval) & Wellbeing Human Resources Workforce, Policy and Projects which will end on the 31st of December 2020.
Decision taken
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has taken the decision to:
Purchase the premises based at Baron Avenue, Earls Barton to be refurbished as joint Fire and Police vehicle workshops for the sum of £3.3M (plus VAT). A deposit of 10% will be paid on exchange and the full balance upon completion following the post judicial review period.
NFRS Decision Record 45 – Joint Fire and Police vehicle workshops